8. King Richard III Was One Of the Most Enlightened And Liberal Leaders In The 15th Century
A diplomatic council of advisors that included Lancastrian supporters, the importation of books and the introduction of the bail system - these are not 19th-Century acts, but in fact those carried out during Richard III's reign in the 1480s. Amazingly King Richard III was most of the most enlightened and liberal leaders in Europe at the time - highlighted by the fact he regularly refused to accept cash gifts from cities around England (as was often the custom) for their service, and he also insisted on laws being written in English instead of the previous Latin so that all his subjects could easily understand them. And all this in just one Parliament - held between January and February 1484 - due to the fact his reign was cut short. Not as evil as he first appears, is he?